Statement by H.E. Mher Margaryan, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN, at the UNGA plenary meeting under agenda Item 113: "Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization"

06 February, 2023

Mr. President,

We thank the Secretary-General for presenting the Report on the Work of the Organization and highlighting his priorities for 2023.

We highly value Secretary-General's leadership in promoting and protecting human rights, achieving gender equality, full, equal and meaningful participation of women in all spheres of public life and eradication of violence against all women and girls. Human rights underpin the activities of the UN system in all fields, ranging from international peace and security, development, climate, cyberspace to humanitarian action. It is essential to prioritize the human rights and fundamental freedoms, countering discrimination, xenophobia and hate, while addressing the root causes of conflicts and crises, protecting people in vulnerable situations and promoting just, peaceful and inclusive societies. We support the transformative measures outlined in the report of the Secretary-General on "Our Common Agenda", related to advancing human rights, promoting gender parity and unlocking the potential of young people.

I reaffirm Armenia’s support to the Secretary-General in strengthening the efficiency of the Organization and its adaptability to the evolving challenges and new emergencies.

I want to focus on three chapters of the report – the Maintenance of Int’l Peace and security, Promotion and protection of Human rights and Promotion of Justice and Int’l Law.

Indeed, the peace and security architecture is under enormous strain as exemplified in the SG’s report, and the converging threats are having devastating consequences also in our part of Eastern Europe, in the South Caucasus.

The ongoing major crisis in the middle of Europe has largely undermined the regional security and created incentives for certain countries to instrumentalize the challenges and complexities of the present-day international politics to use force and instigate violence.

While we note with certain degree of appreciation that the United Nations deployed a range of tools to prevent, mitigate, and resolve conflicts and protect civilians in various parts of the world, we still need to see a substantial action on the part of the UN related to the precarious humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

We have alerted the UN, that emboldened by the results of the use of force in the past, a particular member of international community, Azerbaijan now seeks to normalize violence and aggression to impose unilateral solutions and conduct the policy of ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The latest such example is the ongoing blockade of the only supply route in and out of Nagorno-Karabakh - in grave violation of the existing obligations.

The inhumane siege of an entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh now has been going on for almost two months, the aggressor country plots further use of force to advance its claims on the territory of Armenia.

Several international institutions, member states, international human rights organizations and publications have alerted on the risks of dangerous escalation and atrocity crimes in Nagorno-Karabakh. However, the United Nations is yet to respond to the gravity of the situation on the ground. The aggressor country even exploits the artificial both-siding to justify its criminal actions by referring to the statements of the Secretariat that the UN “is not in a position to verify or confirm various claims and allegations”.

The credibility and reputation of the United Nations is at stake, when, despite its global outreach, vast human and financial resources, extensive toolbox it is not in a position to verify an imminent humanitarian crisis and identify the risks of massive violence and atrocity crimes.

Secretary-General,

As reflected in your report, last year the converging threats shaping the peace and security environment, in which the UN operates have challenged the ability of the Organization to respond to threats, prevent, manage and mitigate conflicts and succeed as peacemaker.

The global challenges necessitate efficient, timely and coherent action by the United Nations system to mobilize the capacities of the international community and coordinate the collective efforts to reach the most vulnerable in every corner of the world.

We believe in the value and role of a strong and responsible multilateralism, with the United Nations at its core, for the security and well-being of small nations. We are confident that the integrity and independence of the UN bodies and entities will prevail and their ability to deliver for the benefit of peace, security, justice, rule of law and human rights should be materialized in our part of the world as well.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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